KSRTC suffers staff shortage; Move to make temporary appointment

Thiruvananthapuram: After 2107 empanelled drivers were dismissed as per the court order, the KSRTC has started attempts to overcome the crisis. The corporation is appointing drivers on a temporary basis instead of empanelled drivers to resolve the issue. The authorities said that all arrangements have been made to conduct services in full swing from Monday.

On Sunday, about 600 bus services were cancelled. It is explained that it was only the normal shortage of services during holidays. Only 40 percent of the ordinary services conducted service as drivers were not available.

If temporary appointments are not made instead of the dismissed drivers, more services will be cancelled. It is learnt that those who were dismissed and others will be appointed on the basis of a contract for 179 days on Monday and Tuesday. Also there are attempts to arrange an alternative facility.

The depots have been directed to ask the permanent drivers to join duty cancelling leaves. When the empanelled conductors were dismissed, there were candidates from PSC rank list to fill the vacancies. But it is not possible in the case of drivers.

In the present financial condition, permanent appointment of staff is unthinkable for KSRTC. Temporary drivers are paid Rs 550 for single duty which is Rs 800-1500 for permanent drivers. In order to resolve the shortage of staff after dismissal of empanelled conductors, services in rural areas were cancelled.